Advertising displays



May 8, 1962 D. G. SCHULTZ ADVERTISING DISPLAYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1958 INVENTOR DALE G. SCHULTZ AT TORN EYS y 8, 1962 o. s. SCHULTZ 3,032,905

ADVERTISING DISPLAYS Filed Aug. 18, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 w 7 2 INVENTQB 27 26 DALE e. SCHULTZ ATTORNEYS May 8, 1962 D. c. SCHULTZ ADVERTISING DISPLAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1958 I INVENTOR DALE e. SCHULTZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent Wisconsin Filed Aug. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 755,629 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-133) This invention appertains to advertising displays and more particularly to illuminated exhibitors for printed advertising matter and/or articles of various shapes and kinds.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an advertising device, which will not only effectively display articles and printed matter to the best advantage, but which will be attractive to the eye, and thus please the esthetic taste of observers.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide an advertising device capable of either being suspended from a wall or other support, or rested on a counter or table, preferably at eye level, embodying a box-like housing having an open front and a display platform in the form of a flight of steps leading from the bottom of the open front inwardly and upwardly to a desired level with an inclined reflector (mirror) leading from the upper end of the open front inwardly and downwardly to the uppermost step of the platform, whereby articles placed on the treads of the steps will be visible both on the steps and in the mirror, so that different effective views of the articles can be simultaneously had, and whereby advertising matter on the steps can be read both from the risers of the steps (direct) and from the treads of the steps in the mirror in logical sequence, the matter on the treads of the steps being printed in reverse, so that the printed matter will appear correct for reading in the mirror.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the steps being formed of translucent material with illuminating means in the housing in rear of the steps, whereby light rays emanating from the light source will shine through the steps and effectively illuminate the .articles or advertising on the steps, as well as the mirror.

A further important object of my invention is to provide changeable exhibitors of translucent material in the form of steps and bearing different printing and/or pictures thereon removably mounted on the platform in the housing, so that the printed matter or pictures to be exhibited in the housing can be changed at the will of the advertiser. v

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of an opening in the bottom of the housing, so that the advertising device can also be used for illuminating desired objects below the housing, when the housing is suspended from a wall or other support.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of my improved advertising device ready to receive the articles or advertising matter to be exhibited;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one piece of advertising matter to be associated with the device;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the advertising device with the .advertising piece shown in FIGURE 2 associated therewith, parts of the device being shown broken away and in section;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the printed advertising matter removed from the device and articles to be exhibited associated with the device;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view through the .advertising device, taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3,,

looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the advertising device, taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

upstanding flange 22, which is in turn fastened to the Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter D generally indicates my improved advertising device and the same includes a hollow box-like housing 10 having an open front 11. The housing 10 can be fabricated in various manners, but as illustrated, the same includes end walls 12 and 13 formed from rigid material, such as wood, or the like. Secured to the upper edges of the end walls 12 and 13, is a top wall 14 and connected to the rear edges of the side walls is a rear wall 15. The top and rear walls can be formed from a single sheet of opaque material and the front edge of the top wall 14 has formed thereon a depending flange 16. The bottom of the housing is closed by a bottom wall 17 formed from translucent material, and this bottom wall can be in the nature of a thermoplastic substance. Formed integral with the front edge of the bottom wall 17 is a display platform 18, and this platform, as best shown in FIG- URES 1 and 5, is in the nature of a flight of steps. The steps lead inwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the open front of the housing to the rear wall of the housing. Thus, the platform includes a series of risers 19 and a series of treads 20. The uppermost tread 20 has formed thereon a depending flange 21 which can be secured to the inner surface of the rear wall 15. As the display platform 18 forms a continuation of the bottom wall 17, the same is also of a translucent material. The rear edge of the bottom wall 17 has formed thereon an rear wall 15. Access to the housing in rear of the steps can be had in various manners, but in the present instance, the flange 22 and the rear portion of the bottom wall 17 are temporarily secured in place so that the' same can be flexed downwardly and the lower part of the rear wall 15 can also be temporarily secured in place so that the same can be flexed downwardly and the lower part of the rear wall 15 can also be temporarily secured in place so that the same can be pulled outwardly.

Also disposed within the and this mirror extends inwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of the open front of the housing to the rear wall 15 and to the innermost edge of the upper tread 20 of the platform 18. The inner faces of the side walls 12 and 13 can be provided with grooves 24 into which the mirror can be slipped, and this forms an adequate support for the mirror. In order to add rigidity to the platform, the side walls 12 and 13 can have their inner faces cut away and arranged in stepped formation to receive the opposite ends of the platform.

Arranged within the housing and below the translucent platform 18 is a source of light 25, and this source of light can be an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent tube, or the like. It is obvious, however, that rays of light emanating from the light source will shine through the translucent platform and onto the mirror 23. Rays of light from the light source will also shine through the bottom wall 17.

The display platform 18 can be treated in various ways to enhance the appearance thereof, and if so desired, side opaque strips 26 of a selected color can be placed on the platform and these opaque strips 26 can have cut out therefrom suitable designs, such as stars 27, and such designs will be effectively shown both on the platform and steps by light shining through the translu- Patented May s, 1962 housing 10 is a mirror 23:

cent platform. The side opaque strips 26 are preferably relatively narrow, so as to leave a wide illuminated display portion 28 for advertising and other matter to be displayed and exhibited.

The Wide translucent display portion 28 of the platform 18 is, of course, adapted to receive .articles to be exhibited and the printed matter to be exhibited. In FIGURE 2, I have illustrated a display sign 29 which is shaped to correspond to the form of the platform and t the width of the display portion 28 of the platform.

This sign is molded or otherwise formed from translu-' cent material and also includes riser portions 30 and tread portions 31. The risers 30 have printed thereon or otherwise aflixed thereto desired matter for direct reading and the treads 31 have printed or aflixed thereon matter written in reverse for appearing in the mirror 23 for reading by an observer. The sign 29 is freely removable from the platform and hence this allows different characters of signs to be associated with the platform. The matter printed on the signs is laid out so that a logical sequence can be had when reading the sign direct from the platform and in the mirror.

It is to be also understood that the opaque strips 26 can be removed and transparent display matter used in lieu thereof.

A very effective display can be had by using pictures of scenes, or the like, on the removable signs.

As best shown in FIGURE 4, the platform 18 can be effectively used for displaying articles, such as watches, or as shown, pen and pencil sets 32. The articles to be displayed are placed on the desired treads of the platform and an observer views the article in elevation on the platform and then views the articles in top plan in the mirror. Thus, effective views of the articles are had simultaneously by an observer.

With the basic display device before a person, such erson can use his own intelligence to arrange signs and displays to the best of advantage.

As heretofore brought out, the display device can be laid on a counter or table, preferably at an eye level, or can be suspended from a wall or other support. Any desired means can be employed for securing the advertising device to a wall or other support, such as picture wire, and eyes secured to the end walls 12 and 13. Where the display is suspended from a support, desired objects below the device can be illuminated from the rays of light shining through the translucent bottom Wall 17 From the foregoing, it can be seen that I have provided an unusual device presenting an intriguing optical illusion in which advertising or other material can be read from the platform and mirror as a continuous message.

Further the apparatus is of such a character that not only does the same attract attention, but will sustain attention; in that the same gives a third dimension effect and presents an illusion of the matter displayed extending into and beyond a wall in-which the housing is affixed.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. An advertising and display device comprising a housing having an open front, a display platform in said housing in the form of a flight of steps leading upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion of the open front, said platform including risers and treads and said platform being formed from translucent material, a source of light in said housing disposed below said translucent platform, an inclined mirror in said housing leading downwardly and inwardly from the upper portion of the open front to the rear of the uppermost tread portion of the platform and extending at an angle thereto, said angle being considerably less than a right angle, and strips of opaque material in the form of steps having cut out designs therein placed on the side portions of the platform leaving a wide display translucent section, and matter to be displayed positioned on said translucent portion, whereby matter placed on said treads can be seen and read in said mirror and matter placed on said risers can be seen and read directly to give twice the ordinary readable display area.

2. An advertising and display device comprising a housing having an open front, a display platform in said housing in the form of a flight of steps leading upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion of the open front, said platform including risers and treads, an inclined mirror in said housing leading downwardly and inwardly from the upper portion of the open front to the rear of the uppermost tread portion of the platform and extending at an angle thereto and overlying all of the tread portions of the steps to reflect all of said treads in the mirror, said platform being formed from translucent material, and a source of light in said housing disposed below said translucent platform to illuminate the platform and to aid in the reflection of matter placed on the treads of said platform in said mirror.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,745,164 Grifiith Jan. 28, 1930 1,955,674 Gill Apr. 17, 1934 2,356,688 OReilly Apr. 22, 1944 2,635,434 Bentley Apr. 21, 1953 

